Birds look to soar in PSL

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Johannesburg - Moroka Swallows have looked east -- to Eastern Europe -- in an effort to revive their fortunes for the coming Premier League season.

The Birds on Tuesday confirmed the signing of three players from three different East European countries, namely Serbian goalkeeper Obren Cuckovic, Bosnia and Herzegovinan defender Boris Savic and Slovenian midfielder Vladimir Mandic.

The signing of the three Eastern Europeans marks the continuation of Swallows' bid to put the team back on track after a disappointing 2013/14 Premier League season in which they started as potential championship challengers but finished close to the relegation zone.

The signing of Cuckovic, Savic and Mandic, all players with first division experience in their respective countries, follows in the wake of the recent acquisition of on-loan Kaizer Chiefs players Lucky Baloyi and Philani Cele, as well as long-serving Bloemfontein Celtic defensive stalwart Tsietsi Mahoa.

"We are excited to have bolstered our squad with six players of genuine calibre," said Swallows chief executive Leon Prins.

"The players from East Europe have impressive credentials and we completed their signings after having a good look at them in training sessions.

"We have not let the grass grow under our feet and are determined to make amends for what turned out a disappointing last season.

"We owe it to our fans who rightly expected a great deal after we finished as runners-up in the PSL championship in 2013."

As further part of their comeback campaign, Prins revealed the club would take part in two pre-season warm-up tournaments, starting with the Gauteng Cup in Atteridgeville on Saturday. PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United and the University of Pretoria would also be competing.

The following weekend, Swallows would participate in the newly-introduced Cape Town Challenge along with Sundowns, Wits and Ajax Cape Town.

"We will be up against some of the best teams in the PSL and that will be ideal preparation for the new season -- as well as enabling us to mould the new players into the team's set-up."

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